Ostara
It’s always a good sign when finding a seat at a restaurant is a challenge, and it’s best to reserve a table ahead of time at this Leith spot. An emphasis on local produce and a chintzy living-room feel are among the reasons this small neighbourhood café is such a hit. Ostara’s commitment to local suppliers isn’t just lip service: the tea it uses, for instance, is supplied by Edinburgh’s Pekoe Tea, and coffee comes from the Williams & Johnson roastery five minutes’ walk away. Ostara’s brunch menu also stands out for its unusual selections, including a hearty mushroom baked egg and Iraqi-style makhlama hash, a dish of spiced minced lamb, potatoes, crispy fried egg and flatbreads.